Monday, June 30, 2014

Get ready to celebrate 4th of July by doing a little nail art! I love nail art! I have realized that it is like painting, just on a small surface. Ha! I can't wait to share this fun tutorial with you using scrapbooking supplies!

To create this look you will need your nail polish, piercer, stylus, and washi tape. A great tip is to try to use light stick washi tape. Also, in the video I am using the Doodle Bug Designs thin washi tape which I like better. It is easier to cut the pieces you need because of the stripes or chevron patterns.

I also used the Silhouette Cameo in this tutorial, but you can look for stickers in your stash or even cut shapes from washi tape if you don't have a Cameo!

Friday, June 27, 2014

Hi, friends, Meihsia Liu here today to share my Project Life spread and the process of how I created these pages. I love the concept of Project Life since it is so easy and flexible to work with. Usually I create Project Life weekly but when I am too busy, I only create when there is a special event in the family.

The event of the Project Life spread I am sharing today is based on my daughter's graduation ceremony and party. The kit I used is Becky Higgins Azure edition and both of my page protectors are Design A. I also have some beautiful journaling cards and foil accents from My Mind's Eye to embellish this project.

Usually I print out my photos in 2.75" X 2.75" with .125" border even they are used on 4" X 6" or 6" X 4" journaling card. Another option of the photo size is 3.75" X 5.75" or 5.75" X 3.75" with .125" border. I found this is the easiest way to process all my photos since the 3" square photos (2.75" X 2.75" with border .125") can fit in any sized journaling cards.

The embellishments in the My Mind's Eye Market Street kits are so cute and fun to use. I love to incorporate washi tapes, flair buttons or badges, and die cut sentiments on my spreads. Pasting the foam tape on the edges of the badge when there is a pin will make the badge easier to secure on the card. You can always cut out the sentiments on the journaling cards and paste them on the other cards in the same kit to decorate the photos.

The sentiments here are cut out from the other journaling cards in the same kit.

Here is the LEFT PAGE.

Here is the RIGHT PAGE.

And here is the whole spread.

Project Life is a very easy and fun system for everyone who loves to document life and tell stories even with limited time. Hope you enjoyed the process of my project, and got inspired to create and document your life stories.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

This month's Craft Warehouse Project Life Designer Spotlight is Meihsia Liu! What stood out the most was Meihsia's reason why she does pocket page scrapbooking, "I have tried different methods of scrapbooking to document my life and I found that Project Life is the easiest and most fun way for me. I have two kids with lots of school and after school activities. I want to keep documenting of our family camping, kids tennis tournaments, or even just normal daily life. With Project Life system, I simply take photos with my phone, print out the photos using a home printer, do the journaling on the cards, then put them together, that's it. It really works for busy moms." That's what it is all about!!! Capturing the everyday and getting those pictures printed and put into an album! Here is a little more about Meihsia...

How long have you been crafting?

I've always wanted to find some hobby that's fun and easy to do. Two years ago, I saw an electronic cutting machine on shopping channel and I was impressed. Of course I had to buy it. Since then, I started paper crafting with card making and then I make scrapbooks, mixed media projects and Project Life.

What inspires you to be creative?

People. My family, friends and all the people in my life especially my children are great inspiration to me. I am also inspired by the people, places and everything I see during each of my vacation trips.

What Craft Warehouse products do you love to use?

I love to use all beautiful Project Life Core Kits, stickers and
embellishments for different events and people on my Project Life.

How can you encourage others reading this column?

I would suggest all our readers to start documenting life and memories by using a fun and easy system like Project Life. Keep taking photos, collecting every small thing you like and recording the moments that are important to you. It is much easier than you think. I also encourage you to share your projects with other Project Lifer and have fun!

Make sure to join us tomorrow where Meihsia will be showing us a beautiful pocket page spread using new Market Street collection from My Mind's Eye! In the meantime, visit her on her blog to get inspired!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Welcome back to Loom Band Wednesday! When I saw this bracelet at our Salem store, I had to ask Brietta how she created it! The crystals are so beautiful and just steps up the typical rubber band bracelet up a notch!

Can you imagine any one of your favorite designs threaded with crystals?

Directions:

1. Create your favorite rubber band bracelet.

2. Use Elastic Thread and thread a string of crystals. Knot both ends according to directions on to
jump rings.

3. Attach the first jump ring to the end of the bracelet. Thread the string of crystals through out the bracelet and use the other jump ring to attach.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

One our favorite trends this summer is DIY Paracord Bracelets! We created this Paracord Snake Knot bracelet using an anchor charm as the closer! Watch this video by author J.D. Lenzen of Paracord Fusion Ties to learn how to create this knot!

To learn more ties and knots for your next paracord bracelet, find our top seller J.D. Lenzen's Paracord Fusion Ties Volume Two Book at Craft Warehouse stores.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Perler beads are perfect to keep the kids busy this summer, but what if they could be used in other ways than intended? What about using them with loom bands and creating unique rubber band bracelets? I love how the bead is flatter than a pony bead which makes the design look completely different.

Using glow in the dark Perler beads I created the Triple the Fun Bracelet from the book Rubber Band Jewelry Book (page 22). This is easy enough for beginners and fun enough for all ages! The difference is - as I looped pegs 1-12, I added a bead alternating colors (blue, blue, orange, orange). For pegs 13-24 (blue, orange, orange, blue, blue, orange, orange, blue, blue, etc). For pegs 25-36 back to (blue, blue, orange, orange).

When in the dark, the entire thing is lit up and it looks so amazing! Even better than a glow stick bracelet! It will a perfect activity for camping, sleepovers, and road trips!

I use the Loom Band Organizer to store my Perler Beads so they don't make a mess while I am working!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Pieced Tree Patterns are our best selling pattern cards! You can find just the right pattern for any skill, for pre-cut fabrics, and panels. We created this children's quilt using the "Panel Magic" pattern sewing card.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Miss out on our free card make and take last week? No problem! We have the step by step so you can make your own from home right here! For more of this month's make and takes, check out our Facebook event page!

1.) Die cut the precut aqua card stock (2” x 1”) with the Technique Tuesday Hello script die and big shot. Set aside.
2.) Use corner rounder to round the to ‘open side’ corners on black card. and also 2 right corners of the precut lime green card stock. - then use strong tape to adhere to inside of card. The Lime
green will show through to the front later.
3.) Next use washi tape (any kind) to position the same script hello die cut onto card front- where you want the peek a boo to be. and then die cut. - remember to die cut with the card laying open so you are only cutting a Hello shaped hole in the front of the card- and be sure you are cutting so that you can read the hello- you will be die cutting DOWN. - you don't need the black hello die cut that this cuts.

4.) Next use the black and white mix washi tape on the pre cut clear acetate sheet and attach to INSIDE of front of card. This creates a clear window through the Hello die- now when you close
the card you can see the lime green through the hello shaped hole. Make sure to place this strip of acetate over the Hello shaped hole in the card.

5.) Now layer the 4 1/4” x 1” bright card stocks- aqua, bright yellow, hot pink to each other using strong tape. Offset these just a little so you have narrow stripes of bright color showing under the hot pink. Use strong tape again to secure ribbon around this stacked layer and tie in a knot on front.

6.) Use the Xyron sticker machine to add sticky to back of hello die cut and carefully insert this into the hello shaped die cut hole on front of card- onto the clear acetate. You will still be able to see through the holes in the letters to the lime green inside card- yet the aqua die cut hello is secure in place.
7.) Use strong tape to add the be-ribboned layered bright card stock border to card- just under the die cut so it looks like the strip of aqua card stock is part of the aqua hello die cut.
8.) Embellish with rhinestones, pearls, or sequins. !

We suggest the white Signo Uniball gel pen for addressing the envelope!